How can civil society and decision makers work better together? This five-step guide, based on learnings from the Citizenship & Integration Initiative, shows why secondments are the key.
What is a secondment model?
A secondment model places staff from civil society organisations in secondments within government bodies. For the government body, it allows them to benefit from the experience and insight that comes from somebody embedded within civil society. For the secondee, it provides a deeper understanding of how policy is made, that they can bring back to their civil society organisation.
Why use a secondment model?
Civil society organisations have deep expertise, but often aren't part of the decisions that affect the communities they serve. At the same time, decision-makers can struggle to access the direct, lived experiences of Londoners affected by their decisions.
A secondment model can help bridge this gap - bringing civil society voices into the heart of government. At its best, it creates a partnership where both sectors are stronger, more informed and better connected.
A secondment model in practice – the Citizenship & Integration Initiative
The Citizenship and Integration Initiative (CII) seconded 14 civil society leaders into the Greater London Authority (GLA).
Secondees worked on areas like migrant rights, social integration, democratic engagement and access to healthcare. Their expertise helped shape new strategies, pilot projects and unlock major public investment.
The impact:
- Improved quality of activities: the GLA could have delivered certain activities alone, but the quality would not have been as high.
- Greater exposure and/or prestige of activities: civil society organisations could have delivered certain activities alone, but the reach and influence would not have been as great.
- Greater ability to inform and influence: secondees were able to contribute to wider GLA activities and policymaking, to an extent that would not have been possible outside of secondment model.
For funders, the return on investment for a model like this is significant. In some areas of focus the Citizenship & Integration Initiative delivered up to six times more in public investment as a result of the grants that support the secondments.
How can others replicate it?
Funders, civil society organisations and public bodies must all invest time and trust. And a successful secondment model needs three things:
- Shared goals
- Strong partnership structures
- Careful support for secondees.
This five-step guide walks you through the key lessons we've learned – from setting up the right governance, to managing secondments well, to ensuring the work has lasting legacy.
Download the full guide and executive summary below to read more about the impacts of the Initiative, and how to replicate it.
16 September 2025
